MINI2

Kurtster · Jun 28th, 2006, 03:15 PM

I have just received my steering wheel and NAV voice preservation kit from MiketheMIni.

I have an Alpine 9857 that needs to be installed in place of my factory head unit. Can anyone in the Boston / North Shore area recommend a great installer who may have experience with Mike's mods?

Ideally I'd like to find a place that isn't going to look at all these wires and plugs and scratch their head in wonderment or charge me extra to put it all together because they've got a learning curve to get over.

Thanks,

lexmcs · Jun 28th, 2006, 05:16 PM

Sound in Motion in Allston. Amazing installers, but pricey.
http://www.sound-in-motion.com/

jwardell · Jun 28th, 2006, 08:31 PM

Do you just have the various wiring harness adaptors that mikey sells? It should be relatively simple to do yourself. Or maybe if I have time some day I can do it.

Kurtster · Jun 29th, 2006, 01:48 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell

Do you just have the various wiring harness adaptors that mikey sells? It should be relatively simple to do yourself. Or maybe if I have time some day I can do it.

Yes, I have the wiring but it looks like it all needs to be assembled. There are connectors that are different than the US connectors and there's a hand written chart showing which color wires go where for constructing the connectors.

I'm going on vacation from Friday through July 10. Do you do this kind of thing often? Would you be comfortable doing this kind of work? I can't easily get replacements of something gets goofed up since it took a few weeks to get this stuff from the UK.

jwardell · Jun 29th, 2006, 12:42 PM

Mikey's biggest business is just his connectors, he makes them so no wires need to be spliced and everything can just be plugged together. I assume he gave you everything to do the same, but I guess I would have to see the chart. I don't do that stuff often..but I have taken my dash apart several times and installed radios in a handful of cars. But it sounds like unless there's some splicing it would be very easy to do yourself.

GBMINI · Jul 4th, 2006, 02:21 AM

I also can probably assist with the wiring, having done a couple of my MINIs with Mikeys kits ...

(click to read step-by-step)

One "issue" is that Mikeys kits are for European HUs with ISO connectors; the USA ones typically have no connector - just wires. So there's a bit of cutting / soldering to adapt.

The HU above, in GBMINI#3, was also sourced from Mikey so is truly plug-and-play. But for GBMINI#2, I installed a US HU and had to do the cuts / joins ...

(again, click for step-by-step)

Jun 28th, 2006, 03:15 PM	#1
Kurtster MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Massachusetts, USA Local Time: 06:15 AM Posts: 313 Offline	Need recommendation -Boston Stereo installer I have just received my steering wheel and NAV voice preservation kit from MiketheMIni. I have an Alpine 9857 that needs to be installed in place of my factory head unit. Can anyone in the Boston / North Shore area recommend a great installer who may have experience with Mike's mods? Ideally I'd like to find a place that isn't going to look at all these wires and plugs and scratch their head in wonderment or charge me extra to put it all together because they've got a learning curve to get over. Thanks, /// The Kurtster /// UNION JACK OWNERS CLUB GB-0032

Jun 28th, 2006, 05:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
lexmcs MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston, MA Local Time: 09:15 AM Posts: 51 Offline	Sound in Motion in Allston. Amazing installers, but pricey. http://www.sound-in-motion.com/ Revs, they're the #1 replacement for displacement Boost, it's the #2 replacement for displacement

Jun 28th, 2006, 08:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
jwardell MINI2 Master Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Newton, MA Local Time: 10:15 AM Posts: 5,429 Offline	Do you just have the various wiring harness adaptors that mikey sells? It should be relatively simple to do yourself. Or maybe if I have time some day I can do it. http://www.jwardell.com/mini/

Jun 29th, 2006, 01:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kurtster MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Massachusetts, USA Local Time: 06:15 AM Posts: 313 Offline	Wiring up the new radio Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell Do you just have the various wiring harness adaptors that mikey sells? It should be relatively simple to do yourself. Or maybe if I have time some day I can do it. Yes, I have the wiring but it looks like it all needs to be assembled. There are connectors that are different than the US connectors and there's a hand written chart showing which color wires go where for constructing the connectors. I'm going on vacation from Friday through July 10. Do you do this kind of thing often? Would you be comfortable doing this kind of work? I can't easily get replacements of something gets goofed up since it took a few weeks to get this stuff from the UK. /// The Kurtster /// UNION JACK OWNERS CLUB GB-0032

Jun 29th, 2006, 12:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
jwardell MINI2 Master Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Newton, MA Local Time: 10:15 AM Posts: 5,429 Offline	Mikey's biggest business is just his connectors, he makes them so no wires need to be spliced and everything can just be plugged together. I assume he gave you everything to do the same, but I guess I would have to see the chart. I don't do that stuff often..but I have taken my dash apart several times and installed radios in a handful of cars. But it sounds like unless there's some splicing it would be very easy to do yourself. http://www.jwardell.com/mini/

MINI2

Fuel for your MINI obsession

For meeting people,arranging events/activities and discussing issues in your local area!

Today
Sponsors	Sponsored Links Registered members do not see Google Ads posts, they can also post messages, pictures, and classified adverts. Register your free account today and become a member of MINI2 - MINI Forum

Jul 4th, 2006, 02:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
GBMINI MINI2 Master Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Gloucester, MA, USA Local Time: 10:15 AM Posts: 7,559 Offline	I also can probably assist with the wiring, having done a couple of my MINIs with Mikeys kits ... (click to read step-by-step) One "issue" is that Mikeys kits are for European HUs with ISO connectors; the USA ones typically have no connector - just wires. So there's a bit of cutting / soldering to adapt. The HU above, in GBMINI#3, was also sourced from Mikey so is truly plug-and-play. But for GBMINI#2, I installed a US HU and had to do the cuts / joins ... (again, click for step-by-step) Ian C. Gloucester, MA, USA (UK expat) driving GPMINI and Convertible GBMINI#6

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Recommendation Request - Good Boston Tire Shop?	Keyne	New York & New England Region	6	Mar 20th, 2006 10:17 PM
Tire Installer Recommendation - Columbus, Ohio?	dco43054	Midwest Region	4	Aug 30th, 2005 10:37 AM
Recommendations for stereo/ipod/XM radio installer in San Jose?	bryfliesme	Interior & Ice	0	May 29th, 2004 09:16 PM
Recommendations for stereo upgrade near Boston	GBMINI	New York & New England Region	10	May 27th, 2003 04:03 PM